The new Mercedes CLA – the ‘baby’ CLS based on the new A Class – has finally been revealed ahead of going on sale in the UK in May 2013.
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The very stylish four-door coupe styling based on the new Mercedes A Class has survived almost intact from the Style Concept, offering buyers looking for a smaller Mercedes a real alternative to the CLS without sacrificing anything other than a size.
Despite being revealed on the eve of the Detroit Auto Show, the new Mercedes CLA will actually make its public debut at the Berlin Fashion Week this week as Mercedes seek to mark the CLA’s design out as a ‘Style Rebel’. And yes, that’s Mercedes’ definition of the CLA’s looks.
Based on the same underpinnings as the new A Class, with a transverse mounted engine driving the front wheels, the CLA is actually a bit bigger than the current C Class (although it has a shorter wheelbase) and a chunk bigger than the new A Class at 4630mm long and 177mm wide.
The slick looks of the CLA translate in to a super-slippery drag coefficient of just 0.23 (with the CLA 180 BlueEFFICIENCY expected to come in at an even lower 0.22) and it looks like the range of models and engines will pretty much mimic those of the new A Class, including a a very swift CLA45 AMG with around 350bhp.
The new CLA will also offer a four wheel drive option – standard on the CLA45 AMG – and this time – unlike the new E63 AMG – the UK market will get the option of the new CLA with 4WD.
Inside, the new CLA will be pretty much what we’ve come to expect from the new A Class, although the back seat will feature more sculpted main seats with room in the middle for a fifth at a push – sort of 4+1 seating arrangement – with plenty of options to help Mercedes up-sell in the showroom.
The new Mercedes CLA is a convincing effort from Mercedes, and with prices expected to be not a lot more than the A Class when it goes on sale in March, the CLA could see Mercedes repeating the impressive sale of the new A Class all over again.
Sam Jones says
I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the CLA sells as well as the A Class. If it only costs a bit more than the A Class then you’re getting a lot of car for your money.